There are two main classes of individuals who can affect the outcome of an experiment:
Those who could influence the results
Those who evaluate the results
When all the individuals in either one of these classes are blinded, an experiment is said to be:
A) Single blind (I'm thinking this?)
B) Double blind
C) not blinded
D) biased
Revise your thinking.
1. Single blind gives the control group a placebo — a substance that is inert, it has no physical effect. Subjects don't know if they are in experimental or control group to reduce placebo effect, a change in behavior solely due to believing that you are getting the independent variable.
2. Double blind keeps both subjects and experimenter ignorant of group setup. Distribution of the independent variable and placebo are controlled by third party. This controls for experimenter bias and self-fulfilling prophecy, which means that experimenters with particular expectations are likely to consciously or unconsciously to bias the experiment and influence it to conform to their expectations.
The correct answer is B) Double blind.
To understand why, let's break down the options and their meanings:
A) Single blind: This refers to a situation in which either the individuals who could influence the results or the individuals who evaluate the results are blinded, but not both. In a single-blind experiment, one group of individuals is aware of certain information while the other group remains unaware.
B) Double blind: This is the correct answer. In a double-blind experiment, both the individuals who could influence the results (such as participants or researchers) and the individuals who evaluate the results (such as data analysts or judges) are kept unaware of certain information. This is done to minimize bias and ensure the objectivity of the experiment's outcome.
C) Not blinded: This means that neither the individuals who could influence the results nor the individuals who evaluate the results are blinded. They have full awareness of all the information relevant to the experiment, which can potentially introduce bias and compromise the validity of the results.
D) Biased: This option does not specifically describe a type of blinding in an experiment. Bias refers to any systemic error or deviation from the truth that can occur during the experiment, potentially leading to inaccurate or misleading results.
Therefore, the correct answer is B) Double blind, where both the individuals who could influence the results and the individuals who evaluate the results are blinded to minimize bias and ensure the integrity of the experiment.